Just after my wife and I got married, we attended a seminar on aiding the rehabilitation of human trafficking victims, particularly those trafficked for sex. (I wont get into all that thats another story for another day.) In one of the presenters talks, he asked the audience what the biggest cause of divorce was. Since I had just been through premarital counseling, I pretty much felt like an expert at marriage. I shot my hand up quickly to answer the question, and blurted out, Sex, money and communication! then looked at my wife next to me and grinned. Too easy.

Wrong, the presenter barked back. Those are symptoms of the real problem.

Ouch. Embarrassed much?

Not only was I given a sharp lesson in humility, but what followed changed my life. I was about to be told the best piece of marriage advice that this young, prideful, newly married man-boy could’ve ever asked for.

He continued

The reason marriages end in divorce is because of one thing unmet expectations.

*mind blown*

My newly married man-boy brain couldnt handle the revelation. I dont remember much of what was said after that. I was too busy thinking of all the unmet expectations I was already experiencing after being married a month.

Since that seminar six years ago, I have seen the pain and frustration that plays out from having unmet expectations, not just in marriage, but inallrelationships. Its a deadly venom that flows to the heart and wreaks havoc in relationships.

But having unmet expectations isnt just a marriage problem. Its alife problem.

It doesnt matter whether youre single, married, working, unemployed, old, young or [insert demographic here]. Having unmet expectations is lethal to everyone. No one is immune.

Sowhats the solution?

Im a math guy. I heart equations. I love crunching numbers and thoroughly enjoyed algebra and calculus in high school (although I probably couldnt do a calculus problem to save my life now). So I came across an equation.

EXPECTATION OBSERVATION = FRUSTRATION

Heres what that means. Below are two hypothetical situations played out

EXPECTATION

When I come home from a long day at work, I EXPECT my wife to have dinner prepared and ready for us to sit down and eat as a family. Shell be wearing an apron with no food stains on it (because shes perfect like that) and her hair will be perfectly done up. Meanwhile, my 16-month old daughter will sit in her high chair and eat with utensilsnever missing her mouth, which makes cleanup a breeze. After we all finish eating at exactly the same time, well head out into the Colorado sun and go for a nice family stroll, while the butler (you read that rightBUTLER son) cleans up the kitchen and prepares our home for evening activities.

OBSERVATION

I come home from work thirty minutes late, and dinner hasnt even been thought ofmuch less started. Because of this, my toddler is screaming her head off, signing MORE! PLEASE! EAT! When I search for my wife, I find her working on a design project trying to meet a deadline thats technically already past due. When I ask whats for dinner, she glares at me the way only an overworked, overtired work-from-home-momma can glare (it can scald your pupilsso the legend goes). After picking up my toddler, I make my way into the kitchen to find an abundance of NO GROCERIES. So, being the manly chef that I am, I set my eyes on cheese and bread. Grilled cheese! I exclaim. I put my daughter in her high chair as an influx of rage bursts from within her. I quickly grab the apple sauce pouch to appease her. It worksfor now. I get to work on my grilled cheese sandwiches. Everyone eats. The kitchen is left a mess. Toys are scattered throughout the living room just waiting to break someones ankle. My wife and I collapse on the couch, avoiding eye contact and avoiding volunteering to clean the kitchen.I could keep going butyou get the picture.

FRUSTRATION= The difference between the two.

Quite an elaborate illustration, I know. But Im trying to paint the picture of what our expectations can be like versus what life is actually like what we observe. (DISCLAIMER: In no way was that illustration indicative of my actual life. Its either not true at all, or highly exaggerated or spot on. The jurys still out.)

Antonio Banderas says it best,

Expectation is the mother of all frustration.

The fact of the matter is this: In life, we often have expectations that go unmet, and were often frustrated because of it.